Wearable data input interface

ABSTRACT

The method is for entering data into a computer device ( 11 ) and comprises providing a wearable device ( 10 ) that is attached to a hand ( 200 ). The device ( 10 ) has extensions ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ) disposed below metacarpophalangeal joints ( 212 ) and first bone segments ( 202 ) of the fingers ( 208 ). The extensions ( 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 ) have sensors ( 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 ) in operative engagement with sensor channels ( 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 ) mounted thereon. The first bone segments ( 202 ) may be moved relative to second bone segments ( 214 ) at the metacarpophalaneal joints ( 212 ) to bend at least one of the sensor channels ( 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 ). One of the sensors ( 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 ) sensing the bending of one the sensor channels ( 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 ) and sending an activation signal ( 57 ) to a computer device ( 11 ) in operative engagement with the device ( 10 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a wearable device for one-handedand two-handed activities that may involve the metacarpophalangeal jointof the hands. The device may be used in the interaction with a computerprogram.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional data input interfaces with computers most oftenrequires keyboards. It is sometimes cumbersome to use keyboardsespecially if the computer or communication device is very small so thateach letter or command button is also very small. For example, it isvery inconvenient to enter text messages into a mobile phone or PDAbecause the devices are so small. In other situations, it is simplyinconvenient to use a conventional keyboard because there is notsufficient room for the user to use the relatively large keyboards.There is a need for a convenient and reliable way of entering data intoa computer device.

[0003] The present invention is a method for entering data into acomputer device and comprises the steps of providing a wearable devicethat is attached to a hand. The device has extensions disposed belowmetacarpophalangeal joints and first bone segments of the fingers. Theextensions have sensors in operative engagement with sensor channelsmounted thereon. The first bone segments may be moved relative to secondbone segments at the metacarpophalangeal joints to bend at least one ofthe sensor channels. One of the sensors sensing the bending of one thesensor channel and sending an activation signal to a computer device inoperative engagement with the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the wearable device for thepalm of a right hand;

[0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0006]FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the wearable device for thepalm of a left hand;

[0007]FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the device of FIG. 3;

[0008]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wearable device shown in FIG.1 mounted in a hand; and

[0009]FIG. 6 is a perspective top view of an alternative embodiment ofthe wearable device for the back of a left hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the present invention is a wearabledata input interface device 10 for entering information into, forexample, a computer 11 connected thereto without using a conventionalkeyboard. The device 10 is, preferably, made of a flexible material suchas a suitable polymeric material. In the most preferred embodiment, abio-compatible silicone material may be used. The device 10 has acentral area 12 suitable for a right hand 200 of a person and fiveextensions 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22. Between the extensions 20, 22, thereis a relatively large protruding bent hook 24 that extends upwardly andtowards the central area 12. Similarly, a smaller hook 26 is disposedbetween the extensions 18, 20 and a hook 28 is disposed between theextensions 16, 18.

[0011] When a person puts her palm of her right hand 200 on the centralarea 12 so that the proximal phalanx of the fingers, such as theproximal phalanx or bone segment 202, rest on the extensions 14-20 andthe thumb 206 rests on the extension 22, the hooks 24, 26, 28 may beengaged by the hand 200 to hold the hand 200 to the device 10 so thatthe person may lift the hand 200 without loosing the grip of or contactwith the device 10. More specifically, the hook 24 grabs the handbetween the thumb 206 and the index finger 208, the hook 26 engages thearea between the index finger 208 and the middle finger and the hook 28engages the area between the middle finger and the third finger. In thisway, most of the fingers extend beyond the extensions, as described indetail below, and the index finger, middle finger, third finger andlittle finger rest on the extensions 20, 18, 16, 14 respectively and thethumb rests on the extension 22. The device 10 may be available indifferent sizes such as small, medium, large and extra large to suitdifferent palm sizes. Because the fingers extend beyond the extensions,there is no need to add any sensors to the finger tips, such as thefinger tip 210, and the fingers may be used for other purposes when theperson is not interacting with the computer. With a glove and sensorsdisposed on the finger tips, it is often necessary to remove the glovesbefore the hands and fingers can be used to do other tasks so as not todamage the sensors on the gloves.

[0012] Preferably, the device 10 has a set of built-in channels so thata sensor channel 15 extends from a back 13 of the central area 12 to amid-portion of the extension 14. Similarly, sensor channels 17, 19, 21extend to the extensions 16, 18, 20, respectively. When the hand 200 iscorrectly positioned on the device 10 and the hooks 24, 26, 28 hold thehand 200 in place, the ends of the sensor channels 15, 17, 19, 21 arepositioned about half way along the promixal phalanx, such as phalanx202, and beyond the metacarpophalangeal joints disposed between eachfinger and the hand 200. For clarity, FIG. 5 only shows ametacarpophalangeal joint 212. A sensor channel 23, best shown in FIG.1, extends to the extension 22 that supports the thumb 206 of the hand200 of the person. Similarly, the channel 21 extends to the extension 20on which the joint 212 and the phalanx 202 may rest. Preferably, thechannels are defined inside the polymeric material of the device 10. Theextensions 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, preferably, have optical receivers 50,52, 54, 56, 58 that are disposed at the end of each channel,respectively. For example, when the metacarpophalangeal joint 212 isbent, the receiver 56 receives less light from a transmitter unit 216disposed, for example, at the back end 13 because the channel 21 isbent. When less light is received by the receiver 56, an activationsignal 57 may be transmitted in the channel 21 back to the computer 11,as outlined in more detail below.

[0013] An important feature of the present invention is that themovements of the metacarpophalangeal joint 212, disposed between theproximal phalanx 202 and an ossa metacarpalia or the bone segment 214 ofthe hand 200, is measured. When the metacarpophalangeal joint 212 of theindex finger 208 moves, that is the angle between the phalanx 202 andbone segment 214 changes, then the sensor 56 on the extension 20 thatbears against the proximal phalanx 202 of the index finger 208 registersthis movement. More particularly, the movement in themetacarpophalangeal joint 212 that bears against the extension 20 may beregistered by the optical receiver 56 that cooperates with the sensorchannel 21 that, in turn, is in operative engagement with the extension20.

[0014] Any suitable type of sensor may be used including, but notlimited to, optronics, accelerometers and piezoelectric membranes.Optronical devices is a combination of a light source, light conductorand light receiver that are connected by electronic circuits so thatwhen the metacarpophalangeal joint of a finger is moved, as in typing aletter, the optronical device registers that the length of the lightbeam is shortened by the bending of one of the channels in theextensions of the device 10. It is also possible to let a light sourcebe generated at the extensions so that when the extensions are bent,less amount of light is transmitted that may be registered by receiverat the bottom of the device 10. Another option is to register anymovement of the direction of the light beam.

[0015] When the device of the present invention is used as a text inputinterface device, it is not necessary that the user is actually using aconventional keyboard. It is sufficient to press against a table surfaceor thigh etc to move the metacarpophalangeal joint.

[0016] It is desirable to require a minimum of movement before thereceiver of the signals generated by the joint movements draws theconclusion that the joint has moved to make sure that only typingmovements of the joint are registered as such.

[0017] Accelerometers may register the acceleration of the movement ofthe joints when the fingers are typing. The peak of the acceleration isreached at the point of the impact of the fingers on the surface below.It is also possible to place piezo-electrical membranes on an insidebetween the device 10 and the palm to measure stretches and tension inthe membrane when the joints, and thus the extensions in operativeengagement therewith, move during typing. The signal that may begenerated by the joint movements may be in a coded form that is laterde-coded at the receiving computer 11. In this way, the user must usethe devices 10, 36 in connection with the program in the computerbecause the program must first decode the signals from the device 10, 36prior to analyzing the information of the signals.

[0018]FIG. 2 shows an underside 30 of the device 10 that has a numerickeypad 32 removably attached to the underside 30. The keypad 32 issimilar to a keypad of a modern telephone with digits from 0 to 9 and *and # buttons. Additional keys may be added, e.g. +, − and /. The keypad32 may have sensors, such as piezo-electrical membranes, under eachdigit of the keypad. FIG. 3 shows an upperside 35 of a device 36 thathas extensions 38-46 for a left hand of a person. Similar to the device10, the device 36 has built in sensor channels 39-47 that extend acrossthe device 36 and terminate at the extensions 38-46, respectively. FIG.4 shows an underside 37 having a mouse arrangement 34 that may beremovably attached to the underside 37. The keypad 32 and the mouse 34are connected to the computer 11 and may function the same way as aconventional keypad of a keyboard and a free standing mouse. In otherwords, by pressing the buttons on the keypad 32, the desired digitsappear on the computer 11 and the cursor may be moved and activated bythe mouse 34. The keypad 32 and the mouse 34 may be attached to eitherthe left or right hand of the person using the device 10, as desired bythe user. For example, if the keypad is attached to the underside of thedevice 10 on the right hand of the user, the user may use the left handto punch in numbers on the keypad 32.

[0019] Of course, the keypad 32 and the mouse 34 may be removed from thedevices 10, 36 when it is only necessary to enter text data into thecomputer 11.

[0020] The signals from the sensor channels in the devices 10, 36 may betransmitted wireless to the computer 11 with, for example, the use of“Bluetooth” technique. It may also be possible to transmit the signalvia a wire 9 that is connected to the computer 11.

[0021] When the devices are used as a text input interface, the devices10, 36 transmit signals back to the computer 11 that detects whichextension is activated and in which order the extensions are activatedto determine the most likely words or sentences typed. It is importantto note that it is not necessary for the operator to hit a specific spoton the table or whatever surface the fingers are hitting. It is enoughto move the joints sufficiently to transmit a signal regardless where onthe table surface the finger tips hit. For example, when the user movesthe joint of the right index finger, the extension 20 transmits theactivation signal 57 back to the computer 11.

[0022]FIG. 6 shows a perspective top view of an alternative embodimentof a device 59 of the present invention that is adapted to be fitted onthe back of a left hand 100. One advantage of having the device 59 onthe back of the hand is that it frees up the inside of the hand forother tasks. In this way, all the measurements of the finger movementsare performed on the back of the hand and the fingers, as described indetail below.

[0023] The device 59 and its sensor technique are very similar to theearlier described devices and works according to the same principles.More particularly, the device 59 has a wrist section 61 that may be abendable material that is attached around the wrist of the left hand100. The section 61 may include a processor, power source and otheritems to drive the device 59.

[0024] The device 59 has a flexible and conforming layer 60. The layer60 is made of a suitable material such as a silicone polymer or anyother suitable material. One function of the layer 60 is to maintain aflexible shape of the device so that the sensors are not tangled up. Anupper segment 102 of the layer 60 has grip portions 62, 64, 66, 68 and70 that may engage bottom portions of fingers 104, 106, 108, 110 and athumb 112, respectively. The grip portions may b have a semi-circleshape that firmly holds the finger while at the same time the gripportions are easily removable. The grip portions may also form a fullcircle so that the fingers are inserted into openings formed therein.The layer 60 has channels 63, 65, 67, 69, and 71 defined therein thatextend from a middle portion of the wrist section 61 to the gripportions 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70, respectively. The channels are adaptedto contain sensors such as sensors 114, 116, 118, 120 and 122,respectively, that are connected to the wrist section 61 so that signalsmay be transferred to the computer 73 for further analysis. Any suitablesensor may be used to detect the movement of the hand/fingers,particularly the movement of the metacarpophalangeal joints. By usingthe sensors to measure movements of the joints on the back of the hand,the accuracy of the measurements may be improved because the movementsof the joints are more distinct than the movements that are measured onthe inside of the hand. Suitable sensors may include, but not be limitedto, optronics, accelerometers and piezoelectric membranes. As describedabove, when the metacarpophalangeal joints are bent, the receivers atthe wrist device 61 of the device 59 receive less light from the sensorsbecause the channel is bent. When less light is received by thereceivers, an activation signal may be transmitted back to the computer73, as described in detail above for the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0025] For extra comfort, the skin of the back of the hand 100 may beexposed between thin finger-like sections 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132.The exposure may reduce the perspiration of the back of the hand and tomake it more comfortable to wear the device 59.

[0026] The wrist section 61 may be connected to the computer 73 via acable 72. The wrist section 61 may also be connected to the computer 73via wireless technology such as the Bluetooth technology. Similar to thefirst embodiment, the device 59 may be equipped with a mouse orcalculator function that is disposed on the inside of the hand 100. Thedevice 59 may be adapted to be fitted on a right hand also by changingthe order of the various grip portions so that the user has a device oneach hand.

[0027] While the present invention has been described in accordance withpreferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood thatcertain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

1. A method of entering data into a coputer device, comprising:providing a wearable device (10) having an extension (14, 16, 18, 20,22), the extension (14, 16, 18 20, 22) having a sensor (50, 52, 54, 56,58) in operative ezigagement with a sensor chael (15, 17, 19, 21, 23)mounted thereon; plsaing a hand (200) on top of the device (10) so thatthe extesion (14, 16, 19, 20, 22) is postioned immediately below ametacarpophalangeal joint (212) and a first bone sent (202) of the hand(200) and the sensor channel (15, 17, 19, 21, 23) extends under andacross the joint (212) and into the extension (14, 16, 10, 20, 22);moving the first bone segunet (202) relative to a second bone segment(214) of the head (200) at the metacarpophalangeal joint (212); themovement of the bone segment 202 bending the sensor channel (15, 17, 19,21, 23); the sensor (50, 52, 54, 56, 50) sensing te bending of thesensor channel (15, 17, 19, 21, 23); and the sensor (50, 52, 54, 56, 58)souding an activation signal (57) to a computer device (11) in operativeengagement with the device (10).
 2. The mathod according to claim 1wherein the method further corises carrying a tirst aount of light inthe sensor channel (15, 17, 19, 21, 23).
 3. The method aicording toclaim 2 wherein the imethod further comprises the sensor 50, 52, 54, 56,58) being an optronical device (50, 52, 54, 56, 58) for sensing theamount of light carried in the sensor channel (15, 17, 19, 21, 23). 4.The method according to claim 3 wherein the method further comprises theoptronical device (50, 52, 54, 56, 58) sending the activation signal(57) to the computer device (11) when a second amount of light is sensedand the second amount is less than the first amount of light.